"Torchwood" (2006) TV series 2006-????

Creator:

Russell T. Davies

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3

Genre:

Drama | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

The 21st century is when it all changes

Plot:

Captain Jack Harkness, the former Time Agent and con man from the 51st century last seen traveling with the Doctor...

Plot Keywords:

Renegade | Cardiff | Investigation | Bisexual Male | Coworker Relationship

Awards:

2 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

John Barrowman	...	Captain Jack Harkness / ... (31 episodes, 2006-2009)
Eve Myles	...	Gwen Cooper (31 episodes, 2006-2009)
Gareth David-Lloyd	...	Ianto Jones (30 episodes, 2006-2009)
Burn Gorman	...	Owen Harper (26 episodes, 2006-2008)
Naoko Mori	...	Toshiko Sato (26 episodes, 2006-2008)
Kai Owen	...	Rhys Williams (22 episodes, 2006-2009)
Paul Kasey	...	Weevil / ... (13 episodes, 2006-2008)

Also Known As:

Excalibur (UK) (working title)

Runtime:

50 min (26 episodes)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Australia:M (some episodes) | Australia:MA (some episodes) | Singapore:M18 (season 1) | South Korea:18 | Canada:14+ | New Zealand:R16

Filming Locations:

BBC Wales, Cardiff, South Glamorgan, Wales, UK

Company:

BBC Wales

Trivia:

Two of the regular characters - Jack Harkness, and Toshiko Sato - originally appeared on the parent series, "Doctor Who" (2005). Toshiko (Naoko Mori) was the government forensic pathologist called in to perform the autopsy on the alien corpse in "Doctor Who: Aliens of London (#1.4)" (2005). Jack (John Barrowman) first appeared in "Doctor Who: The Empty Child (#1.9)" (2005) and became one of the Doctor's companions. He was last seen in "Doctor Who: Journey's End (#4.13)" (2008). Eve Myles played a similarly named character on the parent series in the episode, "Doctor Who: The Unquiet Dead (#1.3)" (2005). It was heavily suggested that the two are related in "Doctor Who: The Stolen Earth (#4.12)" (2008) when the Doctor and Rose Tyler mention that she resembles the earlier character and she confirms that her family has lived in Cardiff since the 1800s. Freema Agyeman was a series regular in series three of "Doctor Who" (2005), as the Doctor's companion 'Martha Jones'. Agyeman later appeared in "Torchwood: Reset (#2.6)" (2008) and the two following episodes as the same character.

Quotes:

Captain Jack Harkness: [voiceover during second season opening] Torchwood: outside the government, beyond the police. Fighting for the future on behalf of the human race. The 21st Century is when everything changes -- and Torchwood is ready.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Doctor Who: Turn Left (#4.11)" (2008)

Better than these reviews would lead you to believe

There seems to be an awful lot of negative comment about Torchwood on these pages and there is definitely a certain 'its not like Doctor Who' element. I love the re-vamped Dr Who, and I was a fan as a child, I grew up with Jon Pertwee as the Doctor and to me he was always the definitive incumbent, until being eclipsed by both the modern incarnations. No, Torchwood is not like Doctor Who, it's a different series; I feel that the characters are very well drawn. They are a team of typical people, they do not have the solutions to all the problems they face, they get scared, they argue, they make mistakes. As far as I see it they behave exactly how most normal people would if recruited and working in a tightly knit team under stressful conditions. There is of course the Russell Davies trademark BLG sexual behaviour, but it is portrayed in a refreshing manner and very much it keeping with the general vibe of the show.

What many of the reviewers seem to miss is the fact that the show is as much about the characters as the aliens, the scripts with a couple of exceptions have been excellent, exploring human relationships and attitudes from a range of perspectives, but most importantly they have been rip-roaring entertainment.

The acting is strong, Barrowman being particularly good, but they all acquit themselves well. The casting is excellent, rather than a stable of beautiful people, they have chosen actors that look, and thanks to good writing, behave, like real people.

A couple of points;

John Barrowman's American accent isn't fake; he lived there from the age of eight.

A lot of comments regarding how derivative the series is; I suspect that Bram Stoker might consider Buffy to be more than a little derivative of his work, but none the less entertaining for it.

This is an excellent series, watch more than one episode before reviewing and please try to approach it with out a particular expectation.

In summary, it is brilliant entertainment.